Weighing-scale.



A. J. ZIMMERMAN.

WEIGHING SCALE.

APPLICATION FILED |uLY|7.19|6. RENEwEDA APR. 15,1918.

1,267,344. Patented May 21,1918- .InIIIIIHIIIIHHHIIIHI IHIHIII ll' .lnllllllllll HIIHII imU" l IIHIHHIIHNIHIHHIIIHHHIIIIIIIIHIIINHH|"""' \5 fm W/(AOW M wwwwwwxww y@ l ma@ A. 1. ZIMMERMAN.

WEIGHING SCALE. MPUCATION FILED lLlLY I7. l9l6 RENEWED APR. i5. 1'918.

1,267,344. r Patented May 21, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. l. ZHVMERMAN.

WEIGHING SCALE. APPLICATION FILED IuLY I1. Isle. REIIEwED APR. I5, 191s.

1,267,344. Patented May 21, 191s.

3V SHE-E TS-SHEET 3..

i iUNITEDsim"luis 'PATENT -A1:BERT J. zrM'MERMAN, or- DAYTON; `oiIIo,v fAssIGNoR, `BY- MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, -To

LA -CORPORATON I"or INDIANA.

`` Specification of Letters Patent.

y WEIGHING-SCALE.

" Patente'aiay 21,r 191s.

[o all/whom it may concern:

l Be it lniov'n that I, ALBERT J.ZIM'MERM\N, )citizen of the UnitedStates,'residing Dayton, in the county of'Montgniery andv State of Ohiofhave invented certainev'v and use- "ful AImprovements in VeighingScales', Case "provi dc improved automaticl 'dom'p'e'nsating means for the fifth or cross lever wherebyT 'the scale will be rendered lmore sensitive' and the crosslever and Weighing'beam`w11lbe unaffected by longitudinal or lateral ,oscil- "lation of'thescale platform 01""v`ar1at1'on of the levers` froin'normal 'alinement but Will respond "only to Vvertical 'movement thereof.

A"-fn'rtlier 'object of the invention is to "provide an improved form of self adjusting or' compensating fulcrum block andan improved form of flexible connection "between' the fifth or cross'lyever and 'the' long "lever which Will co-act w'vith the adjustable or compensating fulcruinblock to'c'omp'ensate for any variation of the fifth or cross lever from normal or alined position.

A further object of theinvention Iis to provide an improved form' of adjustable connection between the fifth orcr'oss and long' levers whereby the leverageof the Cross 'lever ma7 be varied Atol equalize the operati'ons'of the opposite ends of the scale.

lith the above primarvand other ineiden'talgolriects in wien, as Will more rfull7 appear in the specification, the invention consistsof thc features of construetio'n,l the parts and combinationsI thereofgiand l the mode ofopeiaiion. or their equivalentsI. as hei-einafterl described and set forthin` the claims.

v4Referring to thefdrawi-ngs, Figure 1' is a 'pla1i"\`1i'e`W-o`f"an "assembled scale to" Which the present' invention hasbeen "applied5 a 'por-tion" of the platfor1n`beingremoved to disclose/the location' and relationof -Vthep'la/t- 'form levers andi-"their bearings. 1Fig. Q'is a perspective viewiof'the lfifth orv cross le- '-ve"1"supportedaipon its Chair or bracket with :one of .tlieleX-ible connecting cle'vises 'susvp'ended thereon.v Fig; 3'is a top p'lanvievv "of theffth leverandsupporting bracket lor cehailr'illustrati-ng the range of adjust-nient or variation ofthebearings. Fig. 4 is a'p'ers'pec'tive'view of a modification of the construction/'shown in thepreceding figures in vvhficlrthe 'fifth `or cross'il'ever is shoWnfsup- "fportedupon the outerside oftlemain' frame "bai". 5The vsame-figure Would illustrate the application of' the 'fifth lever to a support upon fone ofthe platform vbeams which con 4struction is sometimes used' but is nota preferable one. Fig; 5 is 'a detail view'o'ffone fof vthe adjustable bearing' points or'studs. Figs. '6`iand 7 are detail views of the flexible "'cle'vis 1 or connection betivent the `fifth and lo'n'gdevers` Fig. 8 is a 'perspective view 'off'one 'of theself adjustiirgv or compensat- 'ing fulor'um "blocks reinovedfrom the bracket orchar. Fig. 9 is `a` top plan l'vievv thereof and Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view of the fulcrum'block.

l Like parts" are `ndicz'rted 'by"similar char- 'acters -of reference"throughout the several views.

The present inventionv relates particularly to the Vsupporting and operating connec- 'tionsfof the cross' or fifth lever. As'usually vcon'str'cted theiloiigitudinal 'and lateral os- "cilltioii 'or vibration of the"sc'ale'platforin, caused by: d'rii-'ing a Wagon on or offthe scale A"orbv "placin'g heavy loads' thereon'cause's a corresponding vibration of the fifth' lever 'and its-bearingsg"and a 'tremor onvibrati'o'n :of thev Weighing beam. 'This vibrator-y movement xvhen transmitted to vthe fifth'o-r 'cross lever and Weighing 'beam lnot on-l)T renders the operation y of "Weighing more "f diffi'cu'lt and less' accurate but causes more or `less `vvear upon the knife edge fulcru'mbearli-n'g of the `crossleverand the"clevisbearings through lwhich the fifth leverV is connected with the long or platform levers. rl`he wearing of these bearings causes the scale to become less sensitive and in time destroys the accuracy of its operation. To overcome this difculty by providing flexible or yielding connections between the fifth or cross lever and the long or platform lever and a yielding or shifting fulcrum support which will automatically adjust itself to the alinement of the cross or fth lever thereby automatically compensating for any inaccuracy of adjustment to maintain the proper relation between the knife edge fulcrum bearings of' the fifth lever and the fiilcrum block and to compensate for lateral vibrations or oscillations whereby'such vibrations will not be transmitted to the bearings of the beam is one of the primary objects of the present invention.

In the drawings, 1 is the scale frame which may be of metal, preferably channel irons, or of wood or concrete as desired. Located at each end of the frame 1 are round or transverse lever 2-2 fulcrumed upon knife edge bearings 3 engaging vibratory fulcruin blocks 4. The vibratory fulcrums 4 and supporting brackets for the round levers 2 form the subject matter of a separate invention disclosed in a companion application and will not be here described in detail. At their inner sides the round or transverse levers 2 carry knife edge bearings 5 upon which are supported the platform or floor beams 6 on which is located the usual floor of planks 7. Rigidly secured to the round levers 2 and extending inward therefrom ai'e the long levers 8 which at their inner or adjacent ends are connected with the cross or fifth lever 9. rIhe construction thus far described is that generally employed in scales of this type. On account of the vibratory support 4 for the round or transverse levers 2 the platform is capable of both longitudinal and lateral vibration in addition to its vertical movement by which the weight of the load or draft is detei-mined.

Secured to the inner side of one of the side bars of the main frame 1 is a supporting chair or bracket for the cross or fifth lever 9 comprising a head 10 bolted to the side bar 1 from which projects an arm 11 carrying at its inner free end a substantially U shaped head 12. The upper ends of the arms forming the U shaped head 12 are biv furcated at 13 and within such bifurcations are loosely supported floating or self adjusting fulcruni blocks 14. These self adjusting fulcrum blocks 14 are j irovidedbn their upper face with a V shaped depression or groove 15 and at oppositel ends are flanged as at 16 to overhang the sides of the recesses or bifurcations 13 of the U shaped head 12. Furthermore, the outer faces of the floating fulcrum blocks are formed convex or slightly pointed or pyramidal as indicated at 17. These projecting or'convex faces afford limited lateral or thrust bearings for the fifth or cross lever, thereby reducing to minimum the friction between the fulcruin block and the fifth lever due to lateral contact. The body of the floating fulcrum block 14 is of less width than the recess or bifurcation 13 whereby the floating blocks are capable of lateral play or adjustment within the recesses 13 and the fianges 16 are spaced sufficient distance from the side faces of the arms of the head 12 to permit a twisting or skew movement of the floating fulcium blocks within the recesses 13. 'To decrease the frictional engagement of the fulcrum block with the bottom of the recesses 13 and thereby reduce' the resistance to lateral or differential adjustment, the bottom of the body portion of the block is slightly recessed or concave as at 18 whereby but two lines of contact with the bottom of the recess is afforded. This construction enables the floating fulcruni blocks to freely slide to and fro within the recesses 13 or to adjust themselves to inclined or skew position in accordance with the alinement with the fifth or cross lever 9 whereby the edge of the knife edge bearing 19 of the fifth or cross lever is maintained in the bottom or apex of the V groove 15 of the block. lVithout such free adjustment of the fulcrum block the knife edge bearing is caused to climb the inclined side of the V groove l5 with each variation of alinement or vibration of the fifth lever, thereby wearing or grinding the edge of the knife edge bearing and the fulcruni block one upon the other,

causing the bearing to become dull and af-v fecting the sensitiveness and accuracy of the scale.

Furthermore, in a construction in,

which the fulcrum block is rigidly supported a` slight variation of alinement of the fifth or fulcrum lever will throw the knife edge bearing out of alinement with the bottom or apex of the V groove. therebv causing the bearing to bind more or less and resisting free movement of the levers. These difficulties are overcome by the use of the/floating bearing as herein before described.

A floating or compensating fulcrum sup-y such vibration to the cross or fifth lever and,

scaleV beam. This Wil-l result in'co'nserving rsensitiiv'enes's and accuracy of the scale may 65 the bearings and preserving the accuracy vandsensitiveness of the scale.I lTo this-end there has beenvproii'ide'd a flexible or loose jointed clevis which jengaged upon pointed studs or pins in the fifth and long levers, respectively, thus forming a universal joint which will readily yield or respond to: any horizontal vibration or oscillation. The clevis is such as vto permit a twisting or :warping movement as indicated iii F 7.`

To this end there aie provided inflateral extending arms 21 carried by the fiftlror cross lever 9 upivard projecting pointed studs-or pins 22. These 'studsor pins are adjnstably Vmounted in slots 23 located in 'the arms 2l Wl'ierebythe studs or `pins may beindependently adjusted to and from `'the fulcrum be'aring'of the lever. The stud' or pin is shown Ain ldetail in Fig. V and 'embodies a conical head beneath Which' vis a `flat shoulder2l "engaging inthe slot 23 to prevent l"the rotation' of the stud 1or lpin and a `sc`ie\v"threaded: vshank^25 tol receive the nut 26'by Which'the pin or'stud is'secure'd in its adjhsted position. 'The elongated slots in"'the arni 2l'fpermit'the pointed pins or' studs 22 to -be in'depen'dentlyadjusted to and 'frointhe bearings. This" en ables' the scale to`be readily'adjusted to compensate for yX/"a'riations in Athe draft vor weight of opp'osite" endsfofjthe scale. Furthermore, when Wagons are driven `upon a' scale alivays from 'the same end and olf the scale atthe oppositeend, oiieend 'or the other of the scale" oftenbecomes less lsensitive orvar'ies inits operations from that of the oppositefendof the scale. The usual practice under "such conditions i's' to fil the knife edge 'bearing 3 or ofthe' round Vor transverse lever in suoli Way as to throwthe bearing edge "of fsuc'h ik'nifee'dge 'bearing Vinivardio'r outward sufficient t'ofeoi'npens'ate for the `yariation o'f operation* 'Thefilin'g of the knife edge bearings Sor ato `correct /such 'inaccuracy""retluires great A'skill upon the part of Athe::operator tand yfurthe'ririore weakens the scaleainddestroysfthe possibility of readjustinent at 44a flatei'c'late. The same result can lbe accomplished"inwthe present construction `Without' iniodify'ingt or changing the `'knife "edge1 `lo ealrii'igs of` the round or transverse levers by adjusting the vai-ving stud 22 to or from the knife edge fuirul i9 of uienah or eros'sievern Thus,

by adjiisting the'lpoiiited `s`tud"a\\'fay 'from the fnlcruin the leverage is`"incifeasedj and the ad'jnstinent of the studito'W'ardthe'fuh crum' V4decreases "the" leverage. i By adjusting'the bearing stud; or pin 22^on-thefop posite arm`2ltoklifferent positions in relation ivith' the ful'cruin of the lever 'any ends of the scale may be equalized and the be retained. n

, siinil'ary Vstud or-bearing point 'is "provided Vin the end ofthe longhor "platform lever 8. The last mentioned pointer stud, however, is turned doivn'n'fard. lThe'adjustable or yielding Jclevis beforehneitined 'comprises 'two Lparallel Iheadsf'or' 'bars' "27 loosely connected 'one `niiththe"other"b`y bolts" 28. AThese bolts l'are 4seated -in recesses W29 infthe` outer faces of `the heads" or bars 27. TheA bottoms of the 'recesses are preferably, though not necessarily, formed jconcavelrivliile convex Washers'SO may be located within vthe recesses`29 beneath' the heads ofthe bolts 28. The holes 3l in @the bottoms of the' recesses 29 through :which theshafts of the bolts 28 extend are siifhcientlyj large to permit a generous degree of side play or oscillationas indicated by dotted lines in Fig. Gv and Figi. 7', /ivlie'reby the heads 27 may yield in relation one with the other in any direction. Located in'lthe inner faces of the heads or cross bars 2T intermediate the connecting bolts "'28 are hardened concave bearing blocks` "32 which engage 4the pointed pins oi stud bearings of the 'fifth Aand long levers respectively.

29 may' be formed substantially flat andthe i 'jthe heads and nuts of the bolt, respectively.

This construction will ybefound efficient for ordinary use waltho'u'ghwthe yeons'tifiu'ition previously (describedfand shown in Fig Will be moreflexible and yielding and therefore more desirable. TheV flexibility of the clevis is suoli that the lieadsor bars '27` may be tivisted to .positions inclined 4one to* -the other as indicated in the end vieiviFigv. Bythe' use ofthislflexible clevis the hori- AZontal oscillation of V'the long. lever S Whether same be longitudinally or` trans- `versely, Will be compensatedv forV by tlie svt-inging movement or flexibility `of the "clevis-and the' vibration of the platformand its`levers will rnot'be transmitted to1 the 'fifth' lever nor to "the Weighing beam., y'In Fig. L.tft-here is'sl'iown a modification of vthe 'construction before described. In Figs. 1 to 3 the supporting bracket or chair for the li-fthoi cross lever is extended inward from the sidebar ofthe main frame l and the *sidebar 'is provided with an 'opening or reeess'through which the lever 9 projects. Forl certain conditions of use it is desirable 'tosup'portthe fifth or'cross liever upon the 'outerside'of the main frame 1 Which may be done Ibynieansof va"^'bracket orehair 34: bolted thereto as -shoWn in Fig. 4. kThe constriictionrof-the floating fulcrun'i bearing and the adjustable pin or stud bearing for the long lever is eXactly the same as before described. Inthis construction the long levers Would be bent laterally and eX- tended beneath the side bar 1 to positions in vertical alinement With the arms 21.

Although the practice is not to be recommended, the fifth or cross lever is sometimes supported directly upon the platform beam. This construction is objectionable through the fact that the fulcrum support vibrates vertically With the platform during the Weighing operation and by its vertical vibration compensates to some extent for the draft or load upon the platform thereby making the scale less sensitive and inaccurate. However,` Fig. 4: Will further illustrate such construction in which the channel beam shown may be considered as the floor beams 6 in lieu of the side frame bar 1. The construction vvould otherwise be as before described.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described, possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable but Which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportion, detail construction, or arrangement of parts Without departing` from the principle involved or sacrificing any o its advantages.

While in order to comply With the statute the invention has been described in language more or less speicfic as to certain structural features, it is to be understood that themeans andconstruction herein described comprise but one mode of putting the invention into eiect and the invention is therefore claimed broadly in any of its possible forms or modifications Within the scope of the appended claims.-

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

'1. In a Weighing scale, the combination with a main frame, a platform, platform levers, and a cross lever connected thereto of a bifurcated supporting bracket forfsaid cross lever, independent fulcrum bearing blocks loosely mounted on said bracket and capable of lateral shifting movement in a substantially horizontal plane in relation vviththe bracketA independent of each other and independent of the bracket and the lever.

2. In a Weighing scale, the combination with a main frame, a platforml and a system of scale levers by 'which the Weightof a vload or draft upon the platform is determined,`of a bracket or support, and a floating leverv fulcrum bearing carried thereby capable of lateral shifting movement in a horizontal plane to different positions angular or ofli'set in relation one With another whereby said fulcrum bearing *will autom matically adjust itself to agree With variations of the lever bearing coacting there- With.

3. In a Weighing scale, the combination with a-main frame, a platform and a system of scale levers by Which the Weight of a load or draft upon the platform is determined, of' a bracket or support, a floating fulcrum block adapted to receive a lever bearing loosely mounted thereon, said fulcrum block being capable of shifting movement in a horizontal plane in unison with the lateral variation of the lever supported thereon, ulstantially as and for the purpose speci- 4. In a Weighing scale, the combination With a main frame, a platform and a system of scale levers by which the Weight of a load or draft upon the platform is determined, of a bracket or support, a floating fulcrum block adapted to receive a lever bearing loosely mounted thereon, said block having a recessed base whereby the sliding bearing of the block upon the bracket is reduced, saidioating fulcrum block being free for adjustment to different positions in a horizontal plane independent of said bracket to accommodate said bearing to lateral variations of the lever, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

f 5. In a Weighing scale, the combination with a main frame, a platform and a system of scale levers by which the Weight of a load or draft upon the platform is deter-- mined, of a bifurcated bracket or support,

a floating fulcrum bearing member of less Width than the bifurcation loosely fitted and terminal flanges on said bearing member overhanging the margins of the bifurcation. Y

'6. In a Weighing scale, the combination With a main frame, a platform and a system of scale levers by which the Weight of a load or draft upon the platform is determined, of a bracket or support, a floating fulcrum block loosely mounted thereon having a grooved depression in the base thereof, and said block being capable of shifting movement in a horizontal plane in relation with the bracket to accommodate the bearing to horizontal variations of the lever, ulstantially as and for the purpose speci- 7. In a weighing scale, the combination with a main frame, a platform and a system of scale levers byV which the Weight of a load or draft upon the platform is determined, of a support or bracket, a floating fulcrum bearing block loosely mounted thereon for shifting movement in a horizontal plane, said bearing block having a convex end` adjacentto the lever supported thereon, said bearing being free to accomnodatevitself :to ,lateral. variations lof vthe ever.. Y'

8. .Infa weighingsealmthe; combination With a main frame, a platform and a. sys tem4 offscale levers by'which thecweightf a load'or. draft vuponthe platform vis deten-` mined,.jo f a support orbracket, a floating fulcrum block loosely mounted thereon and a friction point of reduced areaaprojecting from the block toward,thefleverisupported thereby and movablecwith.theblock, said fulcrum block being free for lateral shifting movement to accommodate .it tohOriZOntal variations of the lever.

9. In a weighing scale, the combination with a main frame, a platform and a system of scale levers by which the weight of a load or draft upon the platform is determined, of a bracket or support, a floating fulcrum bearing block loosely mounted thereon, the adjacent faces of the bearing block and the lever supported thereby being non-parallel thereby affording engaging frictional surfaces of reduced area, said block being capable of free shifting movement in relation with the bracket or support to accommodate itself to lateral variations ofthe lever.

10. In a weighing scale, the combination with a main frame, a platform and a system of scale levers by which the weight of a load or draft upon the platform is determined, of a bracket or support, a floating fulcrum bearing block loosely mounted thereon, the adjacent bearing faces of the floating bearing block and the bracket or support being non-parallelswhereby the frictional engagement of the block upon the support will be of reduced area, said floating bearing block being free for lateral shifting movement to accommodate itself to lateral variations of the lever supported thereby.

11. In a weighing scale, the combination With a main frame, a platform and a system of scale levers by which the weight of a load or draft upon the platform is determined, of a support, a floating fulcrum bearing block mounted thereon for free oscillatory movement in a substantially horizontal plane whereby said block may accommodate itself to lateral variations of the lever supported thereby substantially as and for the purpose specified.

12. In a Weighing scale, the combination With a main frame, a platform, platform levers, a cross lever, separate links connecting the platform levers and cross lever, of independently movable link bearings can ried by the cross lever adjustable to and from the fulcrum of said cross lever.

13. In a Weighing scale, the combination with a main frame, a platform, platform levers, a cross lever, operative connections between the platform levers and cross lever, and adjustable meansforvarying the, op? erative leverage ofl said crosslleverfin relation with @inept-the platfprm levers, Dd-ef pendent of the other platformy lever.. Y Y

14. Inia weighing scale, the combination withL a` main frame,a platform,l platform levers, cross lever, .separate links connectingA the platformleversand c rosslever, and av separate. bearing stud for each liiilgeaclroi said bearing, studs bveingV-indep endently a d,- justable on said cross lever.

15. In,-a weighing scale,;,the .combination with a main frame, a platform, platform levers, a cross lever, a link connecting each of the platform levers and cross lever, said cross lever having an elongated opening therein, and a bearing stud for the link adjustably mounted in said elongated opening.

16. In a Weighing scale, the combination with a main frame, a platform, platform levers, and a cross lever, of independent adjustable connections between the respective platform levers and the cross lever whereby said levers may be connected to the cross lever at different distances from its fulcrum.

17. In a Weighing scale, the combination With a main frame, aplatform, platform levers, and a cross lever, of independent links connecting the respective platform levers with the cross lever and independently adjustable bearings for said links carried by the cross lever.

18. In a weighing scale, the combination with a main frame, a platform, platform levers, and a cross lever, of adjustable means for independently connecting the platform levers to the cross lever whereby the influence of the respective platform levers upon the cross lever may be independently varied.

19. In a weighing scale, the combination with a main frame, a platform, platform levers, and a cross lever, of a connecting clevis embodying a universal joint whereby said clevis may freely yield to compensate for lateral variations of the levers.

9.0.- In a weighing scale, the combination with a main frame, a platform, platform levers, and a cross lever, of a connecting clevis comprising spaced bearing bars, links connecting said bars and universal joints between the links and bars, substantially as specied.

21. In a weighing scale, the combination with a main frame, a platform, platform levers, and a cross lever, of floating fulcrum bearings for the cross lever capable of lateral shifting movement to accommodate themselves to lateral variations of the lever and a universal connection bet-Ween the platform levers and cross lever adapted. to compensate for lateral adjustment of the cross nectng the bearing members one With the lever and its bearings. other whereby said clevis will compensate 22. In a Welghmg scale, the comblnatlon for lateral varlatlon of the cross lever and Wlth a mam frame, a platform, platform its bearmgs. 15

5 levers, and a cross lever, of floating ulerum In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set bealrngsffor the cross lever capable of dlatmy hand this 10th day of July, A. D. 1916. era shi ting movement to acoommo ate f themselves to lateral variations of the lever, ALBERI J' ZIMMERMAN' and a clevis connecting the platform and Witnesses:

10 cross levers comprsngoppostely disposed B. H. RANNELDS,

bearing members and aunversal joint con- THoMAs B. HERMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

